Adapter for a surgical reamer driver

ABSTRACT

An adapter for a surgical reamer driver having one of a crossbar and a crossbridge reamer driver. The adapter includes a base having an interface for connecting with one of the crossbar and crossbridge reamer drivers. The adapter further includes at least one recess on the opposite end of the base opening in an axial direction. The recess is configured to receive a reamer of a style unlike the given style interface. A pair of hooks or tabs resiliently hold the reamer in place in the recesses.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/237,537,entitled “ADAPTER FOR A SURGICAL REAMER DRIVER”, filed Sep. 25, 2008which is based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.60/974,882, entitled “ADAPTER FOR ORTHOPAEDIC REAMER”, filed Sep. 25,2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to orthopedic surgical reamers and morespecifically to drivers for such tools.

In the field of orthopaedic surgery, it is often necessary to removebone material to enable implantation of prosthesis to repair joints inthe human body. Patella cutters and acetabular reamer cups and glenoidreamers are surgical tools which are used in surgery for the insertionof artificial joints. Acetabular reamer cups are used to cuthemispherical cavities in pelvis bones for the insertion of artificialhip joints. Patella cutters are used to shape the underside of thepatella or knee cap during knee replacement surgery. Glenoid reamers areused to cut hemispherical cavities in shoulder bones for the insertionof artificial shoulder joints. Patella cutters have a complexarrangement of precisely shaped cutting edges arranged around an axis ofrotation for cutting the patella. Acetabular reamer cups and glenoidreamers have a complex arrangement of cutting edges arranged on aspherical surface around the axis of rotation of the cup.

A number of tools have been developed for this purpose and includereamers having generally semi-hemispherical configuration with cuttingelements on them so that a corresponding semi-hemispherical hollow canbe formed in the bone material for providing a foundation for the repairof the joint.

There are two major driver styles in the field, one of which is for theOthy style manufactured by Symmetry Medical, Inc. and the other stylemanufactured by Precimed SA of L'Echelette, Switzerland. Although theseboth have semi-hemispherical cutting heads, they have differentinterfaces between driving tools with which they are associated. TheOthy style has a crossbridge element. This element is a bar extendingbetween the circumference of the hemisphere and having a circularexpanded section in the middle. Numerous arrangements are available forsecuring this device as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,742.Alternatively, the Precimed reamer has a crossbar shape in which twocircular cross section bars intersect at the center and extend to thewalls of the hemisphere. An example of a driver for this type is foundin U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,290 in which a bayonet interconnection isprovided between the reamer and the driver.

Typically, surgeons use specialized drivers for each of the reamers. Thedrivers connect to a source of power and have appropriate handles forguiding the operation of the reamer by a surgeon. If a surgeon has oneof the adaptors, it is difficult to utilize the other type of reamersince it requires a specialized driver for that reamer. It has beenproposed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,119 to provide a dual adapter thataccommodates both the Othy and the Precimed reamers. However, this styleof dual reamer requires investment in a new reamer driver assembly toconnect with the two different styles. In addition, this type of driverhas a bayonet interconnection in which the assemblies are insertedaxially and then a rotational movement, in accordance with a bayonetconnection, is provided to lock the elements in place. This type ofaction slows the process of utilizing a new reamer because of theadditional movement, But, more than that, the release of the device,after it has been in the surgical environment, is more difficult becauseit requires holding the reamer to reverse the rotational movement andthen axial movement to finally free the reamer.

What is needed in the art, therefore, is an adapter for surgical reamersthat enables rapid and immediate connection and disconnection of thereamers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention is an adapter for a surgical reamer driverhaving a given style interface for connection with a given style reamer.The adapter includes a base having an interface on one end configured tomate with said given interface. At least one recess on the opposite endof the base opens in an axial direction and is configured to releasablyreceive a reamer of a style unlike the given style interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter for a reamer driver;

FIG. 2 shows a crossbridge reamer in place in the adapter;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adapter for a crossbar style ofreamer; and

FIG. 4 shows a crossbar reamer in place and in a reamer driver assembly.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of an adapterembodying the present invention. The adapter 10 includes a base 12 andhaving an interface 14 for connecting with a reamer driver (not shown)that is of the crossbar type referred to above. Interface 14 has acentral circular section 16 coaxial with a central axis A of the adapter10. Central circular section 16 has a plurality of circular bars or rods18 extending radially outward and placed 90° from one another. Theinterface 14 is configured to connect to the Precimed style of reamerdriver that accepts the crossbars represented by the radial elements 18.The base 12 also has a recess 20 at its opposite end to accept a reamerthat is different from the reamer configured to accept interface 14.

In the case shown in FIG. 1, the recess 20 is configured for a crossbarreamer manufactured and sold by Symmetry Medical. Recess 20 has acentral circular section 22 having a central axis coaxial with the axisA of adapter 10 and a pair of recesses 24 and 26 aligned with oneanother and extending radially from the central circular section 22. Aplurality of hook elements 28 are positioned in line with the radiallyextending recesses 24 and 26. The hook elements 28 each comprise a base30 and a lip 32 for capturing an element as described below. Preferablyadapter 10 is made from surgically compatible flexible material andmolded as a unitary piece. However, it should be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the adapter 10 may be formed from a plurality ofelements.

As shown in FIG. 2, a crossbar reamer 34 is received in adapter 10. Asstated previously, crossbar reamer 34 connects with the interior surfaceof a semi hemispherical element having cutting edges on it. Thehemispherical portion and cutting elements have been omitted to simplyan understanding of the invention. The crossbridge reamer 34 has acircular center section 36 received in the circular section 22 and apair of radially extending rectangular bars 38 and 40, which arereceived in radially extending recesses 24 and 26, respectively. Thecrossbridge reamer 34 is held within the adapter 10 by the lip elements32. The crossbridge reamer 34 is inserted into the recess 20 because theupper portion of lip 32 is angled at 42 to allow camming of the lips 32outward by virtue of the yieldability of elements 28 to deflectsufficiently to permit entry of the crossbridge element 34 and permitthe lips 32 to come back into place and hold it.

The adapter 10 enables a surgeon with a reamer driver designed toconnect with a Precimed style reamer to use adapter 10 ininterconnecting with a Othy crossbridge style reamer. Since the adapter10 is made from a unitary material, easily cast and inexpensive toproduce, the adapter 10 could either be used as a permanent adapter forthe crossbridge element 34 or it could be disposed of after surgicalprocedures to avoid the cost of additional sterilization. It is to benoted that the material selected for adapter 10 should be capable oftemperature exposure of a level commonly found during sterilization ofsurgical elements.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown an adapter 50 for use inadapting a crossbridge style of reamer driver to a crossbar reamer.Adapter 50 includes a central base 52 having an interface 54 configuredto connect with a reamer driver which accepts crossbridge reamers.Interface 54 has a central circular section 56 coaxial with the circularbase 52. The diameter of circular section 56 corresponds to the outerdiameter of the central circular section of a crossbridge style reamerdriver. A pair of opposed radially extending tabs 58 extend fromcircular center section 56 and duplicate the radially extending tabs ofa crossbridge reamer.

The opposite end of circular base 52 has a pair of recesses 60 and 62configured to receive a crossbar style reamer. Recesses 60 and 62 havesemicircular floors 64 and 66, respectively to receive the bars of acrossbar reamer. The recesses 60 and 62 are at right angles with respectto one another so as to match the configuration of the crossbar reamer.In order to releasably hold a crossbar reamer within the grooves 60 and62, two sets of tabs 68 and 70 are provided. The tabs 68 and 70 extendradially inward just beyond the maximum diameter of a crossbridge reamerso as to hold the crossbar reamer in place.

As shown in FIG. 4, a crossbar reamer 72 is in place in adapter 50 andcomprises first and second circular crossbars 74 and 76 positioned at90° with respect to one another. As such, the bars 74 and 76 areretained within the grooves 60 and 62. As with the crossbridge reamer34, the bars extend to the interior surface of a semi hemisphericalelement (not shown) with cutters on it to remove material during asurgical procedure. As shown in FIG. 4, the tabs 68 and 70 resilientlyhold the crossbar reamer 72 in place. It should be noted that tabs 68and 70 have camming surfaces 78 and 80 respectively to permit the tabs68 and 70 to deform radially outward upon installation of crossbarelement 72. As with the adapter 10, adapter 50 is preferably formed froma unitary material compatible with the surgical process, includingsterilization. The material used for adapter 50 should have a capabilityof being resiliently deformed in the area of the tabs for resilientlyholding the crossbar adapter.

In both cases, the adapters 10 and 50 permit the removal andinstallation of the respective reamers in an axial direction so that theadditional motion of a bayonet connection can be avoided. This permitsremoval substantially in an axial direction instead of a combination ofaxial and rotational movement.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for surgical reamer driver comprising:a molded unitary piece made from surgically compatible flexible materialhaving a central axis and consisting essentially of: a base having anupper surface and an opposing lower surface. a plurality of recessesformed in said upper surface and facing a first direction, said recesseshaving semicircular bases having axes intersecting at the central axisof the unitary piece and perpendicular to one another, wherein saidrecesses are sized and shaped to match with a configuration of acrossbar reamer; a plurality of resilient hook elements projecting insaid first direction from the upper surface of said base and located atopposite ends of said base, said plurality of resilient hook elementscomprises a pair of opposing resilient hook elements being in line witha pair of the opposed recesses and spaced radially outward from saidrecesses, each of said resilient hook elements has a shape whichcomprises a portion that extends in said first direction from the uppersurface of the base and terminates in a lip that extends in a directionsubstantially parallel to the upper surface of the base andsubstantially perpendicular to said portion that extends in the firstdirection and having a portion with an upper angled surface, wherein thelips of the opposing resilient hook elements extend inwardly towards oneanother for capturing the crossbar reamer, such that when inserting thecrossbar reamer axially into the recess, the upper angled surface of thelips allow camming of the opposing lips outwardly by virtue of theyieldability of the hook elements to deflect sufficiently to permitentry of a circular bar of the crossbar reamer and permit the lips tocome back into place to hold the reamer; and a central cylindricalelement extending in a second direction from the opposing lower surfaceof the base and being coaxial with said central axis and terminating inan interface, said interface comprising a pair of opposed rectangularelements extending radially outward from the central cylindrical elementand being placed in line with one another forming a crossbridgeinterface configured to connect with a reamer driver that acceptscrossbridge style reamers, wherein said adapter enables rapid andimmediate connection and disconnection in only an axial direction.